Conway Grammar School costs projected to go up 3.3%

CONWAY — Education costs for the elementary school are expected to go up 3.3 percent this year.

Based on preliminary numbers discussed at this month’s School Committee meeting, school officials estimate that constituents will pay $1,905,624 of this year’s $2,380,003 Conway Grammar School budget. In total, 123 students are expected to attend school during this next budget cycle, which amounts to 15 less students than last year.

The projection represents an increase of $60,924 over the $1,844,700 that residents paid last year.

Of those increases, $55,381 is from salary related expenses. Specifically, $27,446 is from a 2.5 percent higher negotiated contract with staff members; an estimated $13,237 more is required to pay teachers who have progressed professionally.

Nonunion salary expenses went up $5,668, and an increase in retirement buy back expenses of $16,195 was leveled off by $7,165 in savings from new hires.

Operational expenses went up $9,923, driven by a $4,323 increase in central office expenses, and $5,600 more in transportation costs. Offsetting the budget slightly, technology expenses in the school went down $4,380.

What’s not paid for by town residents (the remaining $474,379 of the projected budget) will be funded by a combination of state and other sources. School Choice funding has decreased this year, as it has for the past several years. It’s expected to account for $180,981.

State funding will contribute $271,128, and a special education grant will supply another $22,270.

Over the next few weeks, School Committee members will finalize and vote on a final budget, which will be presented to the town at the 2018 annual town meeting in May.